Galvanic battery.



Patented Dec. I8 I9U0.

C. B. SCHENMEHL.

G'ALVANIC BATTERY. (Applimtion` med Aug. 21, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

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0. B. scHoENMEHL. GALVANIC BATTERY. (Application lgd Aug. 21, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N0 Model.)

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jvwawbo CHAR Les B. ,ScwoE/vme-HL H0011 my( N, uA r.. TH: Norms PETERSco. mma-uma.. wnsnmaro NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

CHARLES B. SCHOENMEHLOE WA'IERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THEWATERBURY BATTERY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

GALVAN IC BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,008, dated'December 18, 1900.

Application filed August 2l, 1900. `Serial No. 27,577. (No model.)

-To a/ZZ whom it may concer-n.-

Beit known that I, CHARLES B. SCHOEN- MEHL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven andState of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Galvanic Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in galvanicbatteries such as are used on track-circuit work and similar places andwherein oXid-of-copper scale, zinc, and a caustic solution constitutethe essential elements. OXid of copper such as is used in batteries ofthis class is black when first introduced for action, but with theoperation of the battery and the consumption of said oXid of copper thelatter undergoes a transformation of color, turning from the originalblack to a dull red. This coloration necessarily begins upon the outeror exposed side and adjacent to the coacting elements. Heretofore in thevisible types of vertically-acting batteries the copper oXid would beconsumed at the top in advance of the bottom and frequently upon thenear edge in advance of the others, owing to the fact that the solutionis stronger at the top. In my present invention I elect to place theoXid of copper in a suitable receptacle having perforated side Wallswhich admit the solution and expose the copper oXid for action. Saidreceptacle is submerged within the solution of the battery and is soarranged that its ele'- ment is exposed upon either side, causing thesame to be consumed vertically. The solutions such as are used forbatteries of this class are stronger at the top than at the bottom.Consequently they act more forcibly, with the objectionable resultbefore stated. Ihave therefore found it necessary to provide means toinsure the consumption of the oxid of copper at the bottom and frontbefore the rear top is consumed.

It is therefore the object of my invention to provide an improved formof what I will term a visible battery-that is, a battery the conditionsof the elements of which can readily be determined from the exterior andby a casual glance through the glass jar containing the same; further,to provide means to insure a more desirable transformation of thecoloring and to cause the copper-oXid scale to be consumed upon thenarrow edges slightly in advance of that on the back or broader edges.

With the above objects in view my invention resides and consists in thenovel construction and combination of parts shown upon the accompanyingtwo sheets of draw- 6o ings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich similar characters of referencedenote like or corresponding partsthroughout the several figures, and of which- Figure l shows a centralvertical crosssec- 65 tion through a battery provided with my improvednegative pole. Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of the negative elementdetached. Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view of the same. Fig. 5 is avertical cross-section of the same 7o element, and Fig. 5 is aperspective view of a slightly-modified form of construction of thenegative elements.

Referring in detail to the characters of reference ,marked upon thedrawings, A indicates the jar, and B the cover, both of which may beglass or porcelain of the usual construction.

C represents hangers by means of which the zinc elements D of thebattery are de- 8o tachably supported. Central of these zines issuspended the oXid-of-copper receptacle E, forming the negative elementof the battery, the same bein g secured to the cover B, beforementioned, by means of posts F F, having suitable jam-nuts Gr and abinding-screw I-I. The oXid-of-copper receptacle comprises a metalliccasing,the sides Iof which are preferably provided with perforations I,as shown. These perforations in practice serve to admit 9o the solutionand attack the copper oXid. Therefore it will be obvious that saidcopper oxid is consumed vertically and that the consumption beginsadjacent to the perforated sides of the casing and gradually worksinward from the two opposite sides until the entire quantity isconsumed. As before stated, the solution is stron ger at the top than atthe bottom. Consequently the copper oxid is consumed more rapidly atthat point than at the roo bottom. Therefore I have provided a largerbulk of material at said top than at the bottom,

so as to have the two opposite colored sides meet substantially central.By reason of the above it will be seen that the copper scale will beconsumed first through its lower edge M, then through its next narroweror front edge P, and finally through the back O. Thus in practice whenthe two colored bodies meet across t-he front there still remains alittle life in the battery, as will yet appear from the central blackline at the back. In practice I elect to recharge this battery as soonas the scale upon the front edge appears consumed.

I have constructed the receptacle wider at the top L than at the bottomM and also preferably narrower at the front P than at the back O. In thefirst four figures of the drawings the former construction isillustrated, while in Fig. 5 I have shown a receptacle substantiallywedge-shaped or wider at the top than at the bottom without anydifference in the width of the front and back edges. As will beapparent, both the front and back edges of the receptacle are providedwith a glass J, which may be retained in position by suitable cleats K,as shown, or may be slipped through a slot in the top of the case andrun down against the inside of the front edge. In my preferred form Ihave shown the glass extending but part way down the edge of thereceptacle, while in the other figure it is shown extended the entirelength. I do not therefore wish to be limited in this particular.Inasmuch as the thickness of the receptacle and bulk of copper oxid isgreater upon the upper back edge, as shown in the preferred figures, itwill be obvious that the element therein will be eaten or consumedquicker through the remaining thin-diameters of the receptacle,consequently insuring the copper oxid to hold out longest adjacent tothe rear glass, thus affording a positive and reliable means ofascertaining the conditions of the element, as will be apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by LettersPatent isl. In a negative element fora battery, the combination of acopper-oxid chamber having one or more transparent edges and being of agreater diameter through its top than its bottom edge.

2. In a galvanic battery of the class described, a negative elementcomprising a mei tallic receptacle having perforated sides and one ormore transparent edges, said receptacle being broader across its topsurface than the bottom to insure the consumption of the oXid of copperat the bottom before the top.

A negative element for a galvanic battery, comprising a sheet-metalperforated receptacle, having a transparent face and being wider throughits top and back edge adjacent to the said transparent face than theremaining edges, substantially as shown and described.

Signed at Bridgeport', in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, this 7th day of August, A. D. 1900.

CHARLES B. SCHOENMEIIL.

Witnesses:

C. M. N EWMAN, WILLIAM V. DEVITT.

